PokeMotto Noho — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Despite the name, this is not your average poke spot. Serving high quality sushi omakase (Chef's choice - a prix fixe menu curated nightly) by reservation only Thurs - Sun evenings, be sure to grab your spot at the chef's table! They order an appropriate amount of fresh fish for every omakase session so understandably, impromptu guests cannot be added same day. This is a very memorable, intimate experience and I highly recommend trying it out.

No omakase dining session is alike, since unique fish are ordered seasonally, and the chefs are one of a kind masters of cuisine and entertainment. All the strangers I met the night I went agreed not only was it an amazing meal, they could have charged a cover fee for the laughs as well.

I've tasted some of the best sushi I've ever had at PokeMotto not only due to the quality served, but because the chefs take the time to select exquisite types of fish and at different ages as well. Chef Brian narrates your meal as he preps an artisanal experience, touching upon the intricacies of the fish he selects and how he achieves umami goodness with every plate served.

I was blown away by the creative dishes varying from the simple to complex, sometimes pairing ingredients or technique to bring out the best flavor of each course. Chef Sang adds even more variety to the table by utilizing a different approach to his dishes and together they balance the dining experience perfectly. They really understand their audience without making things pretentious.

With decades of experience under both of their belts, Chef Brian & Sang are animated and eager to cater to your tastebuds. I've been to a lot of high-end sushi establishments in the L.A. area and PokeMotto easily puts them to shame without breaking the bank.

Oh, and the poke bowls are pretty awesome too. Not only are they reasonably priced, they taste amazing and it shows - all the locals love this place so it can get pretty busy during lunch and dinner prime time. Order ahead online or get something delivered. Whether you go for poke or omakase, you won't be disappointed. Fresh ingredients and quality fish paired eloquently with flair result in an epic...

So a friend of mine dragged me to this place... She introduced me to the Chef Brian and told me to trust him. I have been told that if I don't like poke from other places I may still like it here. However, I didn't even know what poke was. I typically stick to what I know I like and I also avoid fish for the most part... I then decided to take the leap of faith and try something outside of my comfort zone. So, I let Brian guide me in my ordering process. Not only did he ask my likes and dislikes, but he gauged my excitement and tailored a cocktail of a poke bowl just for me.

I took my order to-go to avoid disrespecting the chef with the face of a skeptic and a disappointed customer. My roommate assured me that if I didn't like it she would gladly assist me in dealing with the left overs... As she was staring at my food like she hadn't eaten in weeks.

The outcome not only surprised me, but it woke taste buds that I had apparently been starving from a flavor profile like I had never know. Needless to say I am now a fan of PokéMotto and Chef Brian. If you gain any wisdom from my experience I hope that you...

Honestly. This was a complete waste of time and money. If you’re like me and have a limited lunch break then I’d steer away. 1) parking sucks , 2) Amazon fresh has better bowls for its price point, 3) the combination of warm rice and “cold” proteins was a bit odd. Customer services was good. I live in OC so my expectations were set hit and this place was no where near the bar. I definitely would not recommend.

Food rating was 2/10.

PS. If you park by Starbucks beware of Isaiah from Dave’s Hot as he’ll block you in. Nothing like spending your lunch break waiting for someone to move their car and not even...